Åsk has been through this before

Something I've been seeking and placing a lot of value in these days is perspective. The news is jarring and disorienting. I've been finding more use and comfort in longer term views, even though those are no more certain when looking forward.

I've been thinking about the other economic shocks my career has bounced along in. The dot com bust and the 'great recession' (can't we come up with a better nickname for this yet?) we turbulent, and definitely had causes and controls that were beyond my comprehension. The current state of flux has the added variables around public health and uneven leadership at all levels of government.

I wanted to talk to someone else who had the long view. Like me, Åsk Wäppling has been working in advertising since the 90's. On her site Adland, and across the web, she has been meticulously cataloguing the industry. You may know her (as I did for a long time) as @dabitch Who else would have a more interesting perspective on how this might affect the industry? In Åsk's opinion, the changes may be more driven by our individual opinions and choices than by industry mandate.

Imperfect transcript can be found here: http://adampierno.com/ask-has-been-through-all-of-this-before/

What will Kenneth Kinney be watching?

I've been watching a LOT of screens. News updates for a little while, but now anything to distract me and my family, or to try to pretend everything is OK. Notice, I used the word screens. That's new for me. We're swapping tablets, phones and televisions depending on the show or the "content." God, I hate the word content.

I've noticed my own habits haven't changed per se, as much as they have accelerated to something I assumed was inevitable. More streaming, almost no broadcast or cable—and anything from those sources is timeshifted. And no, I'm sitting out the Jordan doc. Less traditional TV has relieved me from the onslaught of brands standing with me during these uncertain times. Something to be thankful for.

I reached out to Kenneth Kinney who has been mastering video media and a leader in addressable television advertising since before I knew it was possible. He is VP of Marketing and Digital Strategy at Ai Media Group and he has a vision for how the current state of things will lead to changes in a broad collection of industries that contribute to and benefit from the content we consume.

Do you hear what Jessica Lehmann Ash hears?

Since I was in elementary school, I’ve been a little obsessed with how ideas and thinking fit together. Taking concepts from history and applying math to them. Taking concepts from art and applying it to science. Well, applying concepts from art to everything no doubt. Weirdly, I’ve always compartmentalized my personal and professional lives. Discrete little boxes for each.

Guess what. That’s over. I’m working out of the house and taking work breaks to do art projects with my kids. It’s all connected now. I’m applying lessons from my kids’ homework to my own work, and vice versa. And before any of this started, I got to speak with Jessica Lehmann Ash about how she connects things in her mind. How her work studying music created a model for her thinking and how she applies it today. As strategy lead at Co:Collective, she is still looking for ways to connect what she knows to what she seeks to understand. Jessica folds lessons from seemingly disconnected activities and disciplines into one another to make complex problems simple.

You can read the transcript here: http://adampierno.com/do-you-hear-what-jessica-lehmann-ash-hears/

We talk about the artist Sol LeWitt, and you can see more here: https://www.michaelblackwoodproductions.com/project/sol-lewitt-4-decades/nytimes.com/2007/04/09/arts/design/09lewitt.htmlhttps://massmoca.org/sol-lewitt/

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Geoffrey Colon Wonders What's Next

I've been trying to think about anything except our current situation. It's just terrible and not many bright spots, especially as any attempt at dialogue goes immediately to the political, which I abhor.

I've been fortunate to be spending time with my immediate family and we have been (mostly) getting along. We've been talking about things we can't wait to get back to, or things we miss from our paused lives. I have been surprised how little my children complain about the isolation measures and how few things I've realized I truly miss or long for from the outside world. Surely, I can't be the only one who has identified a few brands I've already realized I can leave behind. In avoiding "the new normal" I've started wondering what might come of all of this.

I spoke to Head of Brand Studio at Microsoft Advertising, Geoffrey Colon about what he thinks the next normal might look like, and the trends driving that. He's looking at the data to see how people are adapting so far.

Want the transcript? You can find it here: http://adampierno.com/geoffrey-colon-wonders-whats-next/

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Making movements with Scott Goodson

It's easy for brands and organizations to say they stand for something when there's nothing at stake. The idea of purpose and purpose washing is something I've thought and written about. I'm on record saying I don't believe companies don't need to have a higher purpose as it has come to be known. In fact, having a stated purpose that is not true is likely much more damaging.

I was set to speak with Scott Goodson, founder of StrawberryFrog, sometime before we ended up in self-isolation. But the timing was perfect. His experience partnering with brands to turn purpose into movement highlights the best of business and branding. People using the energy they have for the purpose to drive the business and vice versa.

Search and contribute to #HCWShoutOutStrawberryfrog.com

Transcript available on adampierno.com

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Pacing yourself with Michelle Hickey

Now working from home, I’ve been overwhelmed with two conflicting thoughts which are dueling for mind supremacy.

1. Be productive, always, never stop, there is no excuse to not be working, writing, learning right now.

2. Retreat. Find comfort. Get your work done, and cocoon with your family.

So far, I’ve been very lucky to have several important projects to keep me working and thriving which has been a good distraction from all that’s going on. But I have noticed a tendency to retreat from writing, reading, or other smaller projects that I *thought* I had been waiting for the time to work on.

As I read hustleporn tweets urging me to use isolation to out-work competitors, I wondered, why is my tendency to avoid what I thought was good for me?

I spoke with creative, Michelle Hickey about how she balances productivity in an always-on work from home environment and why we shouldn't feel guilty about our guilty pleasures.

Customer Reviews

Marketing & Advertising

The communications industry needs more of these podcasts by Adam Pierno. Inside The Strategy of Everything podcast each week you learn about a new executive in our industry who’s strategizing, pivoting and creating. Adam is truly a gifted host his unassuming, humorous, sharp and witty observations will help all of us discover new thinkers emerging in our midsts. Big recommend if you want to stay on top of relevant discussions happening in Marketing.

Hippowill
, 03/09/2019

Engaging & inquiring voices in the creative industries

[An FYI disclaimer: I was a guest on the podcast, and I'm reviewing as a listener] I really enjoy the sweeping variety of topics covered by Adam and his guests on the show, and how either views about the creative industries and the job of strategy regularly come in and out of focus depending on the episodes, guests, and topics. Adam is inquisitive, sharp, and at the same time really open and friendly, pleasure to listen to. I highly recommend checking it out!

lewisontheroad
, 08/02/2018

Relevant

As a copywriter, I’m a little obsessed with strategy. I like the way the host, Adam Pierno, casually chats with other planners and agency-types about the strategy process - or whatever they feel like talking about that day. It’s fun, unrehearsed and ultimately insightful.